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. 2014 Nov;49(6):301-307.
doi: 10.1097/NT.0000000000000063.

Mushrooms-Biologically Distinct and Nutritionally Unique: Exploring a "Third Food Kingdom"

Mary Jo Feeney  1 , Amy Myrdal Miller  1 , Peter Roupas  1
Affiliations

Mushrooms-Biologically Distinct and Nutritionally Unique: Exploring a "Third Food Kingdom"

Mary Jo Feeney et al. Nutr Today. 2014 Nov.

Abstract

Mushrooms are fungi, biologically distinct from plant- and animal-derived foods (fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, protein [meat, fish, poultry, legumes, nuts, and seeds]) that comprise the US Department of Agriculture food patterns operationalized by consumer-focused MyPlate messages. Although mushrooms provide nutrients found in these food groups, they also have a unique nutrient profile. Classified into food grouping systems by their use as a vegetable, mushrooms' increasing use in main entrées in plant-based diets is growing, supporting consumers' efforts to follow dietary guidance recommendations. Mushrooms' nutrient and culinary characteristics suggest it may be time to reevaluate food groupings and health benefits in the context of 3 separate food kingdoms: plants/botany, animals/zoology, and fungi/mycology.

Keywords: Mushrooms; culinary applications; fungi; health benefits; nutrient content; third food kingdom.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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